Celebrating the 80th birthday of ‘Paddle to the Sea’

What if that beloved story came to life?

We’ve got a delightful Cover Story grouping this week, thanks to our authors Suzy Farbman and Larry Buxton—all about how reframing our hopes can lead us farther than we ever dreamed. What we love about the convergences in these stories (Suzy likes to call them God Signs, the name of her memoir) is that neither writer had talked before sending us stories this week. Their themes simply connected. What’s more, this Cover Story also connects to an ongoing theme in ReadTheSpirit this summer, which is awareness of Native American issues. In 1941, the original Paddle to the Sea was published to celebrate the close connection to nature among Native peoples.

FIRST, read Suzy’s retelling of a Paddle to the Sea story involving a former chef and TV celebrity who became a filmmaker—and an inspiring young woman who was an Army veteran with one last wish in her short life. It was the filmmaker who finally fulfilled that wish.
Then, at the end of Suzy’s story we do have links if you want to learn more about the original award-winning children’s book and Canadian movie, Paddle to the Sea.
Then, enjoy Larry’s video over at his Leading with Spirit website that ties together the theme of “reframing.“
Finally, if you’re wanting to look back at some of our earlier Native American coverage this summer, here’s our late-June story about the legacy of Indian boarding schools.

Please, share these stories with friends via social media, this week. Sharing these stories represents true rays of sunshine in this often overcast world.

When Our Favorite Theater Goes Dark

RODNEY CURTIS writes this week for all of us who have lost a theater where some of our fondest moments have been spent through the years.

We Are Caregivers

A New Approach to the Unique Needs of Latino Caregivers

Our Front Edge Publishing team is collaborating with a nationwide network of journalists reporting on solutions for caregiving challenges. This week, we are highlighting important news on a fresh approach to serving the unique challenges of Latino caregivers.

Introducing a New Publishing House: Lake Drive Books

IN OUR FRONT EGDGE PUBLISHING COLUMN, this week, David Crumm introduces a friend and colleague: David Morris, a long-time veteran in this profession who is opening what he expects will become a mid-sized independent publishing house specializing in uplifting books built around authentic storytelling.

Holidays & Festivals

Wishing Our Muslim Neighbors a Happy Eid

OF THE 2 MUSLIM EIDS EACH YEAR, this week’s Eid al-Adha is known as the Greater Eid and normally is a time when crowds gathering for community prayers literally spill out the doors of mosques into nearby streets and fields. Stephanie Fenton has the story of what is likely to unfold this week—and why it is so timely to wish Muslim friends well this week.

Click on this image to read Ed McNulty’s review of Eroica.

Faith & Film

Click on this image to learn about the July 2021 issue of Visual Parables Journal.

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Among Ed’s free reviews and columns:

EROICA—Ed McNulty reaches back to 2003 for a wonderful film about the arts, Eroica. In short, it’s a carefully reconstructed drama about Beethoven debuting the piece that people at the time considered a milestone in music history—a unique delight in moviemaking.
AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY—“Written and directed by Eva Gardos, this film is based on the filmmaker’s own experience as a young immigrant Hungary.”
STREET FLOW—”Writer/co-director/star Kery James’ film is set in France, the story of three brothers of African descent who live in one of the huge projects just outside of Paris.”
A RAINY DAY IN NEW YORK—Based on its on-screen merits, Ed recommends this Woody Allen story set in New York City.
AWAKE—Another Apocalyptic thriller with some unusual twists.
NINE DAYS—“Director/writer Edson Oda’s film at first seems to be about a busy man conducting interviews over a nine day period. But as it unfolds we realize this is a metaphysical tale about birth and the appreciation of and celebration of life in all its details.”
MR. PIG—”Mexican director/writer Diego Luna tackles both animal rights and father-daughter issues in this 2016 film that NetFlix has picked up.”
FATHERHOOD—“Appropriately this new Kevin Hart film opened during this year’s Father’s Day weekend. Were it not for a brief bedroom shot it would make for ideal family viewing, with its tender depictions of a father-daughter relationship.”
JOE BELL—Ed recommends this film, “based on a true story,” written by the same team that contributed to the 2005 film, Brokeback Mountain, a writing partnership that included the late novelist Larry McMurtry.
ONE NATION, ONE KING—”French writer/director Pierre Schoeller’s epic will enlarge our truncated view of the French Revolution. Schoeller attempts to give us a view of events from the perspective of those at the bottom of society.”